Egg handling machine



Feb. 24, 1953 R. c. SNEED ETAL 2,629,479

sec HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIEi-l Feb. 24, 1953 R. c. SNEED EI'AL 2,629,479

EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 F- I Ei E INVENTORS EOJEET C .J'A/rzp BY Cum 5. Jaw/w A ORNE.

Feb. 24, 1953 R. c. SNEED E TAL 2,629,479

. EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ fiaazer 6'. 54/550 (Men: 5. Jeep/W Feb. 24, 1953 R. c. SNEED ETAL EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNE 3 NQ L w HQ NM Feb. 24, 1953 R. c. SNEED ET AL 2,529,479

' EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIE-E INVENTORJ foamr C. j/vzfp BY Curr/s .5 Jana/w ATTORNEY.

R. C. SNEED ET AL Filed June 16, 1945 H 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 umw l vim-PH Mvawmzs B05557" C. j/VEED Cwer/s 5, JUIHAA/ ATTO/Z/VEY Feb. 24, 1953 HANDLING MACHINE I Filed June 16, 1945 14 sheets-sheet 9 FIE-1E F'IE'l-IEI INVENTOZS 1805527 6. j/VEED 5y Cum-1s 5. Jaw/w Feb. 24, 1953 c, SNEED ETAL 2,629,479

EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1845 14 Sheets-Sheet ll 7 286 FIG- E1 FIE-BE l l Il v l l I Y t FIE-EB 303 INVENTORS 3o/ J fan-e7- 6. jA/EED 2a 60 677! .9. Jam

ATTORNEY.

1953 R. S'NEED ETAL EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets$heet 12 F'IEi-EE INVENTORJ .lfaanr C J's 55p 62/677: 5. Jaeww A ORNEY.

Feb. 24, 1953 c, sNEED ETAL 2,629,479

EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 346a .343 323 44 .32 .34 J35 342 .345 F- I E I :3 E FIE E E "675 a m u 112:

INVENTORS 05527 6. j/VEID BY Cum/s i Jaw/w ATTORNEY.

-Z 1953 R. CHSNEEQ ETAL 2,629,479

EGGHANDLING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1945 14 Sheets-Sheet l4 F'IEi-EIE FIE-:37

ATTOE/VEY Patented Feb. 24, 1953 EGG HANDLING MACHINE Robert C. Sneed, Piedmont, and Curtis S. Jordan, Glendale, Calif., assignors to Safeway Stores, Incorporated, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Maryland Application June 16, 1945, Serial No. 599,910

2 Claims.

This invention relates to egg-handling machines and is concerned more particularly with machines of this character which operate to grade the eggs by weight and to facilitate subsequent candling and packaging of the eggs by quality.

In the marketing of eggs it is customary to grade the eggs by weight into a plurality of sizes and then within the sizes to perform a quality-grading operation, as by candling, and. to package the eggs in appropriate numbers in carton containers, for example, by the dozen or the three dozen. In performing this operation it is desirable to handle a large number of eggs with minimized breakage and to so control the flow of eggs through the machine that a minimum of effort is required on the part of the operator or operators in performing the various grading and packing operations.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved egg-handling machine which facilitates packaging of the eggs graded according to size and quality.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the above character wherein the eggs can be separated into their various sizes and separately conveyed to a common candling and packaging station.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved egg-handling apparatus in which the eg s are received in bulk arrangement and are subsequently arranged in single file for an -grading operation.

. "Another object of the invention is to provide improved egg-handling equipment including means for gently transferring eggs from one conveyor to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved egg-handling equipment including means providing a convenient arrangement of egg receiving cartons at a packaging station.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the e ghandling equipment.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrating the arrangement at the candling and packaging station.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the egg grading portion of the machine.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the egg grading portion of the machine with the bulk conveyor omitted and certain parts of the weighing conveyor partially broken away for better illustration of the subject matter.

Figure 5 is a right end view, partially in section, of the egg grading equipment shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the egg grading equipment taken as indicated by the line 66 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the left end of the egg grading apparatus as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the apparatus taken as indicated by the line 8-8 in Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of the single file egg conveyor taken as indicated by the line 9-9 in Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a sectional detail view of a part of the egg grading apparatus taken as indicated by the line iii-40 in Figure 4, and showing means for raising and lowering the egg weighing conveyor.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the egg grading apparatus taken at one of the Weighing stations and indicated by the line HH in Figure 4.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the egg transfer means taken as indicated by the line i2|'2 in Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a detail view of a part of the drive means for the egg weighing conveyor taken as indicated by the line |s |3 in Figure 4.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail of ratchet drive for the single file egg conveyor.

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail of the ratchet drive for the bulk or plural row egg conveyor.

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail of the ratchet drive for the transfer means between the plural row conveyor and the single file conveyor.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of one of the carton feed mechanisms at the packaging station.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken as indicat ed by the line I8-l 8 in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is an elevational view of a carton holding rack and an associated counter at the packaging station.

Figure 20 is a sectional view of the mechamsm shown in Figure 19 as indicated by the line 2020 therein.

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 19 but showing a modified arrangement of the carton holder for use in automatically counting the eggs placed in the carton.

Figure 22 is a sectional view of Figure 21 taken as indicated by the line 22-22 in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an elevational view of a holder for a dozen carton at the packaging station of the machine.

Figure 24 is a sectional view through the holder shown in Figure 23 as indicated line 2424 therein. by the aceaaro Figure 25 is an elevational view of a modified holder for a carton of thirty-six eggs.

Figure 26 is an elevational view partly in section of the holder shown in Figure 25 and taken as indicated by the line 26-46 in Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a schematic plan view showin the arrangement of the various counting devices at the packaging station.

Figure 28 is a plan view of one of the counting devices and related parts.

Figure 29 is a fragmentary detail view similar to Figure 28 showing the position of the parts for counting eggs in dozen lots.

Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure 28 showing the position of the parts for counting eggs in three dozen lots.

Figure 31 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the counting device shown in Figure 28 as indicated by the line 3I--3l therein.

Figure 32 is another view of the counting mechanism shown as indicated by the line 32--32 in Figure 28 with the parts positioned for automatic counting.

Figure 33 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the counting device as indicated by the line 33-33 in Figure 28 with the parts positioned for manual counting of individual eggs.

Figure 34 is a detailed view of the counting drum.

Figures 35 to 3'7 are views of a counter operating mechanism for counting the total number of eggs before they are graded by Weight.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary plan view showing the arrangement of the counter operating mechanism above the weighing conveyor.

Figure 36 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Figure 35 taken as indicated by the line 3636 therein.

Figure 37 is a view similar to Figure 36 but showing the parts in a different operative position thereof.

As explained briefly above, the egg handling machine of this invention is designed to have eggs fed in bulk arrangement to the egg grading part of the apparatus where the eggs are separated as to size in a weight grading operation, and the various sizes are then fed to a candling and packaging station where the operator performs the quality grading operation and places the eggs in appropriately labeled cartons of one or more sizes. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus includes a weight grading unit 10 in which the grading according to size is performed and a candling and packaging station and apparatus II to which the eggs are fed in separating sizes from the grading apparatus Hi. The grading apparatus will now be described in detail.

Referring to Figures 1, 3, 4, and '7, the egg grading apparatus adjacent frame portions l2 and I3 on which are supported a series of egg conveyors including a bulk or plural row conveyor M, a single file conveyor 15, a weighing conveyor [6, and a discharge and feeding conveyor l1, all of these conveyors being driven in timed relation from a common drive motor IS. The drive motor 18 is connected through a belt and pulley drive l9 to a gear reduction box 2| from which the common drive shaft 22 extends for connection to the various operative parts of the apparatus.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 to 8, inelusive, the plural row conveyor I4 is supported by means of an auxiliary framework 25 upon which respective side frames 21 of the conveyor structure are mounted. The side frames 21 provide journaled mountings for a drive shaft 28 and a suitable idler shaft (not shown) having respective driving and idler sprockets 29 which engage the rollers 3i of the conveyor l4, the respective rollers 3! being connected adjacent each end by the links 32 of a similar pair of connecting and driving chains. The rollers 3| travel on respective upper rails 33 and lower rails 34 secured in a suitable fashion to the side frames 21. Thus it is seen that the plural row conveyor comprises an endless series of rollers providing a series of egg conveying troughs therebetween so that eggs deposited in the troughs will be carried along the upper stretch of the conveyor in the direction indicated by the arrow 36 in Figure 8. Eggs may be fed to the plural row conveyor M in indiscriminate fashion but are preferably fed thereto to form rows of six eggs. The eggs may be conveniently deposited on the conveyor in three dozen lots.

To enable the timed drive of the conveyor in step-bystep fashion, the drive shaft 28 (Figures 8 and 15) is provided with a nine-tooth ratchet 3'1 which is adapted to be driven in step-bystep fashion by a pawl 33 pivoted at 39 on an operating lever 4i and urged into engagement with the ratchet wheel 31 by means of a spring 22. The operating lever M has a pivotal connection with an operating rod or link 43 which is pivotally connected to an arm 4-4 (Figure 8) secured on a shaft 46. The shaft 46 (Figures 4 and 8) is suitably journaled in an angle rail ll of the frame and also has secured thereon an operating arm or member 48 which is disposed in the path of three equally spaced operating rollers 39 on a large bevel gear SE. The operating arm 48 is urged to engage the hub of the gear Si by means of spring 55 connected to the frame and a pin on the shaft 46. The gear ii! is secured on a shaft 52 carried by a suitable bearing 53 on the rail 41 and is driven by the bevel pinion 54 on the drive shaft 22.

The gear ratio between pinion 54 and the bevel gear 5i is 1:6, so that the gear 5| receives one-sixth rotation for each rotation of the drive shaft 22 and the pinion 54. The rollers 49 on the gear 5! impart three steps of movement through the operating linkage to the ratchet 3'! during one rotation of the gear 5! and the nine teeth of the ratchet 31 provide a one-third movement of the plural row conveyor [4 for each step of movement thereof. As a result, each six rotations of the drive shaft 22 produces a one-third rotation of the ratchet wheel 31 and a one-step movement of the plural row conveyor 14.

As will be seen from inspection of Figures 7 and 8, the single file conveyor 55 is disposed along the discharge end of the plural row conveyor M and transversely with respect to the path of travel thereof so as to receive the eggs in each row in single file thereon. The single file conveyor l5 (Figures i, '1, 8 and 9) comprises a series of rollers Bl journaled at their ends in the respective links 52 of a pair of similar chains, the rollers 81 engaging a driving sprocket 63 and an idler sprocket 64 so that the upper stretch will travel in the direction of the arrow 86 (in Figure 7). Respective upper and lower tracks .61 and 68 (Figures 7 and .9) are provided for engaging the rollers B! of the endless roller conveyor 15. Preferably, each roller 3.! is contoured to provide a reduced diameter adjacent its central portion so that an egg supported by the adjacent rollers will be centered transversely of the single file conveyor. The engagement of the rollers 6| with the track 61 serves to rotate the egg engaged with a pair of adjacent rollers BI and cause the egg to be positioned transversely of the conveyor.

In order to provide a step-by-step movement of the single file conveyor I5 in timed relation to that of the plural row conveyor I l, the supporting shaft 'II (Figures 4,7 and 14) for the drive sprocket 83 is provided with a three-tooth drive ratchet I2 engaged by a spring-urged pawl I3 on an actuating arm I4 pivoted about the shaft II. The actuating arm I4 is pivotally connected at 15 to a link I6 which is turn is pivoted at 'Il' (Figure '7) to an offset arm I8 secured on the drive shaft 22. In this way the ratchet I2 will be advanced one step and the conveyor I5 will also be advanced one step for each revolution of the drive shaft 22. In other words, the single file conveyor I5 will be advanced six steps for each single step advance of the plural row conveyor Id. In this way a row of six eggs on the single file conveyor can be advanced beyond the Width of the plural row conveyor before another row of eggs is deposited from the plural row conveyor onto the single file conveyor.

In order to effect the transfer of eggs from the plural row conveyor to the single file conveyor a gentle action transfer means is provided including a series of four rows of resilient fingers 8i, seven fingers to the row, secured in equal angular spacing to a supporting drum 82 (Figures 7 and 8) having supporting bearings 83 on the side frames 27 of the conveyor Hi. The fingers 8i may be made of suitable resilient material such as rubber tubing.

Referring to Figure 8, if a row of eggs has just been discharged from the conveyor I4, they will be resting between adjacent rollers 53! of this conveyor and the adjacent row 8Ia of resilient fingers. If, with the parts in this condition, the fingers Ill be given a one-fourth rotation, the eggs will be gently deposited by fingers am into the adjacent troughs provided by the rollers 8I of the conveyor I5. For this purpose the supporting shaft 84 (Figures 3 and 16) of the drum 82 carries a four tooth ratchet 88 adapted for operation by a spring-urged pawl 31 on an operating arm 88. Arm 88 is connected by a link 89 with an arm SI (Figure 8), secured on shaft 82 pivoted in depending brackets 83. The shaft 82 carries a depending arm 94 (Figures 4 and 8), which is urged by a spring 96 to engage the hub of the gear 51. The arm 94 (Figures 4 and 8) is disposed in the path of an extension 9? of one of the rollers 49 so that the arm 94, the shaft 92 and the transfer fingers 8| will be operated once for each revolution of the bevel gear 5|, i. e., once for each six steps of movement of the single file conveyor I5.

The series of fingers 8| also serve to prevent overcrowding of the single file conveyor I5 in the event one or more eggs fail to feed therewith out of the path of the next row of eggs from the conveyor I4. For this purpose an egg receiving tray 98 (Figures 3 and 8) is secured on the frame adjacent the rollers 6| of the conveyor I5 so that the fingers 8| in transferring one row of eggs to the conveyor I5 will also clear the conveyor of any eggs remaining thereon which have not advanced beyond the discharge end of the conveyor I4.

The eggs from the single file conveyor I5 are deposited one by one onto the weighing conveyor I6 which may be of the general construction disclosed in the United States Letters Patent of R. C. Sneed and Curtis S. Jordan, No. 2,347,068, dated April 18, 1944, for Egg Grading Machine.

As explained in said patent, the weighing conveyor I6 comprises a series of apertured plates or links IIlI (Figures 3, 4, 6 and 11) connected by similar hinged joints I92 and each link includes a movably mounted egg carrying cup I03. Each cup I83 has a bottom flange I04 which is secured in place after the cup portion is extended through the aperture of the associated link IOI so that the egg carrying cups remain secured within the links even in the inverted position shown for the lower stretch in Figure 11.

Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the pins of the hinged conections I02 have their ends disposed in spaced idler and drive sprockets I06 and I01, respectively, secured in upstanding bearings I08 on the frame. To provide a step-by-step drive of the weighing conveyor, the drive sprockets I01 have their shaft I 89 extended to carry a drive sprocket I I I (Figures 3, 4, 5 and 13) having associated therewith a gravity type drive pawl II2 pivoted on a drive arm H3. The drive arm H3 is journaled on the shaft I89 and is connected by a link H4 with a lever H5 pivoted on the frame and provided with a bracket I I! (Figure 5) forming a slot which is engaged by a suitable drive roller on a drive arm H6. The arm H6 is secured on the shaft 22 so that the weighing conveyor is advanced one step for each rotation of the drive shaft 22.

In order to transfer eggs one at a time from the single file conveyor I5 to the weighing conveyor If; and to deposit each egg in an aligned weighing cup IE3, an egg transfer means is provided in the form of a pair of arcuate fingers I2I (Figures 4, 7 and 12) secured on a shaft I22, which is journaled in supporting bars I23 of the frame. The fingers I2I are normally disposed, as seen in Figure 7, to receive an egg for transfer to the Weighing conveyor I6. To operate the transfer fingers I2I, the shaft I22 (Figure 12) is provided with an upstanding spring-urged arm I24 which is connected by a link I26 with an upstanding arm I21 pivoted at I28 on the frame of the machine. The arm I2! carries a roller I29 engaged with an operating cam I3! secured on the shaft 22. The shape of the cam I3I is such that after receiving an egg the transfer fingers I2I will be retracted slowly during the first portion of the cycle of the drive shaft 22 to effect a general depositing of the egg and will dwell during the middle portion of the cycle when the egg weighing conveyor I6 is being operated to remove the egg from in front of the transfer fingers I2I. Subsequently the transfer fingers IZI will be rapidly advanced from their retracted position to the position shown in Figure 7 in time to receive the next egg upon advance of the single file conveyor I5.

After the eggs have been deposited one by one into the cups H13 of the weighing conveyor, the step-by-step advance of the weighing conveyor carries them past a series of weighing stations, at each one of which eggs of a predetermined size by weight will be ejected onto a corresponding run or portion of the discharge conveyor l'I.

As explained in the above mentioned patent, during the step-by-step advance of the weighing conveyor the upper stretch of the conveyor is alternately raised and lowered to deposit the weighing cups onto aligned scales to perform the weighing operation. For this purpose the respective ends of the hinge pins I82a (Figures 6, 10 and 11) ride in tracks I36 carried by bars I31 7 of a framework including cross pieces i38'which have bushings I39 secured thereto. Each bushing I39 pivotally receives a supporting pin i l! carried at the end of an arm M2 secured on a supporting shaft M3 suitably journaled on a frame portion H24. Each shaft M3 (Figure 6) also carries a depending arm Md and these arms are connected by a link Hi? to insure parallel motion of the supporting linkage for the conveyor raising and lowering frame.

To actuate the weighing conveyor lowering and raising frame, the left hand shaft M3 (Figures 4 and 10) carries an arm M9 which is connected by a link ltd with the arm 55% having a roller I5? urged against a cam iES by a spring I559. The cam 25,? is secured on drive shaft 22 and is circular throughout the major portion of its periphery so that the arm is held stationary during the time the weighin conveyor is being advanced and during the dwell in the advance of the weighing conveyor will be operated during the engagement of the flat portion of the cam I58 with the roller itil to first lower and then raise the upper stretch of the weighing con-- veyor It.

As previously explained, a plurality of weighing stations are provided past which the weighing conveyor moves and as these similar only one will be described in detail.

Referring to Figures 6 and ii, each station includes a scale platform i ii which is supported by a parallel motion lipl ing its supporting legs which a connected to forked end Hit of lever liiii. arm IE3 is pivoted on the shaft supported on a frame angle iii. A depending arm par" allel to the supporting legs is connected to a lever I65 having a pivotal support in a dope stationary arm I10. A damping weight Elie carried by the lever ltd. Opposed. to the arm I63 is a counterweight arm i'i'i having a tln'eaded portion upon which a counterweight lift is ad.- justably mounted so that the weight H2 opposes the combined weight of the platform let, the weighing cup H33 the egg in the weighing cup. The weight ll? is appropriately adjusted for the size of egg to be weighed.

L'gg ejecting means in the form of an egg kick off arm is provided for removing the egg from the aligned cup i553 and discharging it onto the adjacent discharge conveyor l1 if the egg is of suf-- ficient weight to cause downward movement of the scale Hit. For this purpose a kick-off plate I16 is provided (Figures 6 and ll) which is secured at the lower bent end of an arm if? secured at its upper end in a collar I18 pivoted on a transverse shaft 519 suitably mounted on upright brackets i S i The collar 218 is spring urged counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 11 by spring I82 connected between frame and a pin i853 carried by the disc I123 and adapted to engage a pin I84 projecting radially from a collar its 56-- cured on the shaft Elli. .dpring I82 serves to operate the collar I33 and the kick-off arm I'll during the egg ejecting operation. Spring tension is applied to the shaft :12 by spring 532 secured to a pin 9% in shaft iii? and to the frame to take up st motion. of the parts. The disc I18 is provide-cl with a tooth iilI engaging a latch bellcrank I92 pivoted at 6% on the frame and engaged by an upstanding trip arm Silt connected to the parallel motion linkage IE3, ass, etc., to be moved therewith.

Means are provided for periodically operating the shaft I19 to apply motion to the kick-off plate I through the disc I18 so that if the weighing operation has determined that the proper weight egg is in the cup the egg will be ejected therefrom. For this purpose the shaft H3 (Figures 6 and 11) carries an upstanding arm 5% connected by a link 191 to an upstanding arm I98 on a transverse shaft I99 pivoted in the frame. The shaft I99 also carries an arm 2M which is connected by a link 282 with a cam follower arm 253 having a roller 204 urged by a spring 2&5 into engagement with an operating cam 281 on the drive shaft 22.

The operation of the kick-off means or ejecting device is as follows: As the eggs are progressed by the weighing conveyor I6, the weighing cups I03 will be aligned in succession with the weighing scales including the platforms IBI, itIa, Ifilb, and a final kick-off position with its kick-off arm I connected directly to the shaft I'Id. When the upper stretch of the weighing conveyor is lowered, the respective cups I03 will be deposited on the aligned weighing platforms. If the egg in the leftmost Weighing cup I03 is of the heaviest weight, the platform I6I (Figure 11) will be moved downwardly in opposition to the counterbalance weight I12, and the trip arm I94 will operate the latch bellcrank I92 to release the aligned disc H18 so that the kick-off arm will be operated under the influence of its associated spring I82 to eject the egg onto the left portion 22! of the discharge conveyor I'I viewed in Figure 3. During this operation, pin 583 follows pin I84 under the influence of spring I32. After an egg is ejected the pin I86 on shaft I19 engages the pin I83 and rotates the collar I13 against the tension of its spring I82 until the latch I92 again engages tooth I9I of collar Hi3.

If the egg is of insufficient weight to trip the leftmost weighing scale, it travels to the second weighing scale, platform 16m, where the next lighter egg size is ejected. If the ejecting device is tripped at this point, the egg Will be ejected onto the portion 2 52 of the conveyor I I, A similar operation will occur for eggs which are in the third egg weight and are aligned with the kick-off plate I'Hib. If the egg is too light for the third ejecting position, it will be ejected by the final kick-off plate I onto the stretch or run 254 of the discharge belt I1. Partition members 216 separate the various portions of the discharge belt I1.

After the eggs have been separated according to weight by the grading mechanism described above, they are carried in separated portions by the discharge conveyor I1 to a candling and packaging station including a bin 23I (Figures 1 and 2) supported by legs 232 at the discharge end of the conveyor I1 to accumulate the eggs at the station II and having separate compartments for the various sizes of eggs. A candling lamp 239 is provided above the bin 23I.

The station II includes an upright frame 233 (Figures 1 and 2) which is divided at the top by vertical partitions 234 into a plurality of egg carton holding chambers 236, which terminate at a horizontal shelf or ledge 231 above a plurality of packaging stations including a row 238 over a shelf 239, a row 24I over a shelf 242'and a row 243 over the lowermost shelf 2. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of conveyors 2.45, 2d? and 248 are associated with the respective shelves 239, 2 52 and 244, so that filled cartons can be removed by these conveyors in a manner later described. The carton chambers 236. illustrated more clearly as to the dozen egg cartons in lated contact strips 295 onthe shelf 242.

Figures 1, 1'7 and 18, are provided with a back wall within which the cartons are counted on a retaining ledge 23'! (Figure 18) with the lid portions of the cartons extending in overlapping fashion adjacent the wall 25L The hinged feed door 253 (Figure 1) is provided for receiving stacks of dozen egg size and three dozen egg size egg cartons and feeding them into the chamber or chute 233. A friction retaining device is provided for the cartons of the ledge 23?, with the exception of the lowermost carton, including a rectangular frame 256 pivoted at 25? and having at its upper edge a pressure bar 253 which extends and engages the fifth carton from the bottom under the influence of the spring 253 so that all carton lids, except that of the lowermost carton are subjected to pressure of the spring by virtue of the overlapping relation of the lids, the lid second from the bottom ends at 25 I, as indicated in Figure 18. After pulling out the lowermost carton 262, the operator can move the releasing frame 256 to allow the cartons to slide down and feed the next one into the lowermost position.

Certain of the carton holding chambers 236 are employed for holding the desired supply of 36 egg cartons. The carton holders in the row 238 are the type for receiving 36 egg cartons, as illustrated at 21! in Figures 19 and 20 and comprises an L-shaped frame 2'52 hinged at 213 on the front wall 214 of the shelf 239 to be normally supported in inclined position above the belt 245. The frame 212 includes supporting strap 212a and a pair of spaced apart carton supporting arms including angle arm 222D and strip arm 2'l2c. After the carton 2i! is full, if

.the frame 272 is urged clockwise as viewed in Figure 20 against the tension of spring 216, the bottom of the carton 21! will be engaged With the belt 245 so that the carton will be automatically removed from the holder frame 2'12.

The next packing row or station 24! is adapted for use either with a egg carton or with a 12 egg carton to perform automatically counting operations in a manner later described. The shelf 242 of this row (Figures 21 and 22) may be equipped with a depending frame angle 2?! having a supporting bracket 2T9 extending downwardly therefrom. An L-shaped supporting bell crank 285 is pivoted at 2'58 on the bracket 2'59 to provide a support for a removable carton bracket 28! generally similar to the bracket or holder 222 and having a support arm 231d releasably engaged with pins 282 on the bell crank 280. The bell crank 28!) is urged counterclockwise by the spring 233 to maintain the carton holder 28! and the carton 2H.in. the. inclined position shown. In this position ;the contact operating .pin 284 on the bell crank 28!) is spaced from the contact assembly 285 secured on the angle bracket 21'! and adapted to be operated by the bell crank 280 upon clockwise movement thereof to close a counting circuit through the leads 28'! in a manner later described.

For use with the dozen egg cartons the shelf 242 carries a pair of supporting ledges 231 adapted to receive an associated pair of supporting bars 292 of an auxiliary carton plate 293 adapted for abutting engagement with the edge of the shelf 242 with supporting bars 292 extending beneath the shelf 242 in engagement with the ledges 23!. Also a pair of similar insulated and contact strips 294 are provided on the carton plate 233 to engage between corresponding pairs of insu- Contact strips 294 are electrically connected to a switch 291 having a trip arm 296 projecting upwardly through the plate 293. Suitable leads extend from the pairs of strips 295 to a counter. A dozen egg carton 252 can be supported as shown in Figure 24 while the eggs are being inserted therein with the contact trip arm 296 disposed for operation by the carton when it is slid rearwardly after filling onto the discharge conveyor 241.

A modified form of a 36 egg carton holder is shown in Figures 25 and 26 wherein the carton frame 390 is mounted on upright arm 31H slidably carried in brackets 302 on the shelf 244 and urged upwardly by spring 393. Upon filling of the carton the holder 300 can be depressed until the carton is engaged by the conveyor 248and fed out of the holder 300. Respective carton stops 334 are provided with conveyors 246 and 243 to hold the cartons until they are removed therefrom.

As referred to above, a counting mechanism is provided for counting the various eggs packedin the cartons and for this purpose a series of counting devices 32! are shown in Figures 2, 20 and 27, being mounted below the shelf 239 and including numeral drums 322 mounted on respective supporting brackets 323 and adapted for viewing through the windows 324. A common drive shaft 325 (Figure 2'7) is provided for the various counting devices.

As each counting device is similar, only one will be described. Each counting device is adapted for manual operation to count eggs individually and for automatic operation, to count the eggs in units of dozens or of a selected number of dozens, in the present instance in unitsof three dozens as well. 1

The counter unit includes a ratchet wheel assembly including a 36 tooth contact operating ratchet 33!, a 36 tooth ratchet 332 for manual counting, a three tooth ratchet 333 for counting in dozen units, and a one tooth ratchet 334 for counting in three dozen units. The ratchets are secured together in spaced relation and journaled about stationary shaft 335, and urged by a friction drive to turn clockwise, a viewed in Figure 28. The friction drive mechanism includes a friction disc 336 which engages the lower face of the ratchet 332, the parts being urged together by a three pronged spring member 331 secured on shaft 335 and engaging the upper face of the ratchet 332. The friction disc 336 is connected by a collar 338 to a worm wheel 339 having adrive worm 340 associated therewith.

Ofthe above ratchet wheels, ratchet 33l is an impulse transmitting ratchet wheel having a spring urged pawl 341 cooperating therewith and also carrying a contact closing arm 342 associated with the spring contact members 343, having leads 344 extending to a suitable counter.

The ratchets 332, 333 and 334 are escapement ratchets and are adapted for operation to cause escapement of the ratchet assembly for a given number of steps in accordance with a given number of eggs counted. The 36 tooth ratchet 332 is adapted for manual operation by means including an escapement pawl 346 (Figure 28) pivoted at 341 and urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 348. The tail 346a of the pawl 343 is engaged by the nose 349 of a lever 35B pivoted at 35! to a pivotal link 352 to provide a translational movement of the lever 355. A spring 353 is connected to the lever 350 to urgeit to the left as viewed in Figure 28 and into ll engagement with the tail little of the release pawl 345. A manual operating plunger 334 is slidably mounted in a square tube 355 and is held inactive by a compression spring 356 which maintains the enlarged end 354a of the plunger 354 against the tube 355. Each depression of the manual operating plunger or key 354 will operate the lever 35!; to cause the pawl 346 to release the ratchet wheel 332 and consequently the ratchet wheel 33! for one step of movement so that one impulse is supplied to the counter. The nose 349 of the lever 353 travels oil of the tail 345a of the pawl 346 and is restored to the position shown in Figure 28 upon release of the plunger 354, thus providing single stroke operation of the plunger 354.

For automatic operation of the ratchet wheels a. solenoid 3Bi (Figures 28 and 31) is provided which is operated by one of the sets of contact members 286 and 29?, previously referred to, so thatits armature 362 will be drawn within the solenoid and will operate the lever 3553 through a link 383. Operation of the lever 358 by the solenoid Sfii serves to disable the release pawl 346 for the single counting ratchet 332. For this purpose, a two arm gravity latch 364 is provided having one arm 36 3a operable by the plunger end 354a and a second arm 35th positioned for cooperation with a pin 365 on the tail 346a oi the pawl 346. The arm 3641) drops into latching engagement with the pin 365 upon operation of the lever 355 by the solenoid 3,6! and remains in this position until the plunger 354 is operated to perform a single count. When the plunger 334 is again operated to perform a single count plunger end 354a engages the arm 334a of the latch 3&4 to move the arm 3541) of the latch from engagement with the pin 335 so that the pawl 346 can again engage the ratchet 332.

To provide for operation in counting the eggs in dozen lots with the three tooth ratchet 33 a second pawl 3' (Figure 29) is pivoted on the shaft 341 and adapted for abutting relation with a pin 3'52 on the pawl 346, the pawl 346 also serving as the operating means to release the pawl 3H from engagement with the associated tooth 313 of the ratchet 333. The pawl 3H as shown in Figure 29 is in operative relation with the ratchet 333, this condition being provided for by the positioning of a manually settable control including an eccentric 314 on a rod 3H; having a pointer shaped handle 37'! and journaled in spaced bearings 313. The eccentric 314 ccoperates with a laterally extending and depending finger 319 of the pawl 3ll to allow the pawl. in the position shown in Figure 29 to engage the ratchet 333 under the influence of its spring 38E. If the handle 311 is turned from the position shown in Figure 19 clockwise to alignment with the indicia 35 the eccentric 3l4 (Figure 29) is turned from the position shown to that shown in Figure 30 where the pawl 3' has been moved to its inactive position.

To enable counting in units of 36 eggs, the (ratchet 334 is provided with a single tooth 382 cooperating with a pawl 383 also pivoted on the shaft 347 and having an associated spring 384 which serves to engage the pawl with the ratchet 334. The pin 312 on the pawl 346 also underlies the pawl 383 to operate this pawl upon energiz tion of the solenoid 36!.

From the above description it will be apparent that the ratchet assembly can be conditioned for automatic counting under control of the solenoid 36! in either units of one dozen or three dozen by appropriate setting of the control handle Elli so that when the lever 353 is operated by the solenoid 3Bl its nose 349 will engage the tail 345a of the pawl 343 and through the pawl 343 and its pin 312 release either the pawl 3' from its ratchet 333 or the pawl 383 from its ratchet 334. It will be noted that whenever-the solenoid 36! is operated to initiate an automatic count, the pawl 346 becomes latched in inactive position after the initial operation by the lever 358 until it is again released by virtue of another manual count by operation or the manual counting plunger 354.

Figures 35 to 3? illustrate a counter actuating device for use in connection with a weighing conveyor to count the number of eggs before grading, and to provide a check on the number of eggs counted in the ratchet type counting device previously described. The counter actuating device includes a pair of spring contact arms 33! and 392 spaced apart by an insulating block 383 and having an insulated mounting 3S4 upon a supporting rod 395. The contact arm 39! carries an insulating strip 395 to support an offset control arm 39'! which is used to control the raising and lowering oi the contact arms and 332 between the positions shown in Figures 36 and 3"! under control of an offset end ilfia or the shaft H3. The shaft I19 being operated once for each step of movement of the weighing conveyor it will lower the contact arms 39!, 392 once for each step of movement so that the extended end 392a of the arm 392 will be lowered to engage an egg in the aligned cup 133 and close the contacts 393 if an egg is engaged. The spring serves to move the arms 33L 392 downward as the shaft H9 is operated. If no egg is in the aligned cup 103 the contacts 398 will not be closed and no count will be made. The electric leads 409 extend from the contact arms 3M and 392 to the associated counting device oi conventional construction.

The operation of the egg handling machine of our invention may be briefly summarized follows: Eggs received for processing may be deposited manually, or by means of special egg handling devices, on the bulk conveyor M, as illustrated in Figure 3, preferably in rows of six eggs to the row. The eggs are carried in stepby-step fashion by the bulk conveyor I4 until they arrive at the discharge end thereof, where a row of eggs will be deposited by the egg transfer fingers 3| (Figures 3 and 3) onto the single file conveyor Hi.

It will he recalled that the single flle'convcyor i5 is moved in step-by-step fashionat a rate six times as great as that of the bulk conveyor Hi, so that a row of eggs deposited on the single file conveyor will be moved from alignment with the discharge end of the bull: conveyor [4 before the next row of eggs is moved by the transfer fingers 8! from the bull: conveyor onto the single file conveyor. In the event any eggs have not progressed beyond the discharge end of the bulk conveyor I the transfer fingers 8| also serve to clear the single file conveyor l5 by discharging any eggs remaining thereon onto the receiving tray 98 (Figure 3).

The rotation of the rolls M of the single file conveyor l5 serves to align the eggs, as shown in Figure 3, for depositing onto the pair of arcuate egg transfer fingers I21 (Figures 3 and 7), which are operated in time with the step by-step movement of the single file conveyor IE to beposi- 

